Rick Palacio speaks at the state Capitol on the eve of the Colorado Democratic caucuses.

A day before Democrats hold caucuses, leaders in the party and members of the Greater Metro Ministerial Alliance convened on the steps of the state Capitol to observe the 47th anniversary of the marches from Selma to Montgomery, Ala.

Rick Palacio, chairman of the Colorado Democratic Party, said that the marches — where hundreds were violently attacked by police as they advocated for the voting rights of African Americans — appalled the nation and led Congress to pass the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Congressman Cory Gardner, an avid hunter and defender of the Second Amendment, introduced his "Make My Day Better" bill all five years he was in the state House of Representatives, but the measure always took a hit. Although Gardner's in D.C., these days, other Republicans are still introducing the measure.

During Republican Cory Gardner’s first session in the state House, he introduced a measure to allow a business owner to use deadly force if necessary.

“How is this different than ‘Make My Day?'” I asked, referring to the state law that allows homeowners to use deadly force.

“This is ‘Make My Day Better,'” he said, without missing a beat

Little did Gardner know that his quip would stick until an aide brought him a bumper sticker: “This business is ‘Make My Day Better’ compliant.'” Now everyone refers to the measure as “Make My Day Better.”

Gardner, a state representative from Yuma, introduced the bill every year from 2006 through 2010. Every year the bill died in the Democratic-controlled legislature.

In 2008 in Colorado, three out of five Latinos cast their ballots for Obama. Latinos comprise 9 percent of the state’s registered voters.

An interesting twist in the Fox polling data, according to the story based on the poll, is that in grading President Obama, Latino voters give him the lowest marks on immigration.

Paradoxically, immigration is also the issue in which President Obama receives his lowest approval rating among Latino voters –some 41 percent disapprove of the job he is doing regarding immigration, with the number climbing higher to 56 percent among Latinos between the age of 35 and 44.

Voters in the U.S. 36 corridor provided a “critical majority” in the 2004 FasTracks vote and “that support should be honored in going back to voters for additional revenue,” Polis said in a letter to RTD General Manager Phil Washington.

Rep. Jared Polis

The letter comes in advance of a staff recommendation to the Regional Transportation District board on how to proceed with the metro area’s regional transportation plan given the northwest rail line predicted to cost $894 million in 2004 is now estimated at $1.7 billion. That recommendation, which is expected this evening, will be considered by the board at its Thursday meeting.

The decision will ultimately inform a larger decision on asking voters for additional money to complete FasTracks.

At a gas station in Julesberg in September 2009, Michael Amodeo, spokesman for U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, state Sen. Chris Romer, D-Denver, and Bennet look over a map outlining Bennet's travels since being appointed to the job in January.

It languished in the House for a month, costing taxpayers an estimated $3.8 million in that time.

Now, though, House Bill 1005, which would allow local governments to once again invest in U.S. government-backed securities, appears to be on a lightspeed fast track in the Senate.

The House gave the bill final approval on a 65-0 vote today, underscoring how non-controversial it was but also raising more questions about why it sat in the Republican-led House unacted on for a month. The bill had passed out of a House committee unanimously and there appeared to be no opposition to it.

House GOP leaders would not explain the bill’s lack of progress other than by saying “different bills move at different paces.” That was despite a plea to move the bill from country treasurers, who said that every day the law remained unchanged it costs the taxpayers $164,383 in lost investment income.

I’ve had impressive response to my Sunday column, in which I put forward our plans for lists of Colorado’s Most influential women.

If you haven’t submitted your nominations for our lists of Colorado’s most influential women, you can do so here through March 11.

If you want to submit more than 5 in each category, feel free. There is no limit on the number of times you submit names (keep in mind that we’re simply compiling a list here, we’ll be sorting and ranking with your help at a future date).

US President Barack Obama speaks at a campaign event at the Pepsi Center on October 25, 2011. He will deliver the commencement address at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs May 23.

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama will make the commencement speech at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs May 23, White House officials confirmed to The Denver Post Monday.

It is the fourth military service academy Obama has delivered a commencement speech. He delivered the U.S. Naval Academy’s graduation speech in 2009, West Point’s in 2010 and addressed the U.S. Coast Guard graduates last year.

“Every year, the President enjoys speaking to members of our military at one of the four service academies to not only congratulate the graduates on their accomplishments but also thank them for their service to the country,” said White House spokesman Adam Abrams, in a statement. “This year, the President looks forward to addressing cadets at the Air Force Academy.”

Rep. Kevin Priola, R-Henderson, reads to his daughter, Bremma, on the floor of the House before opening day of this year' s session.

Speaker Pro Tem Kevin Priola says he believes the GOP House caucus is divided “one third, one third, one third” when it comes to civil unions.

That means a third for, a third against and a third unsure, said Priola, a Henderson Republican, who has publicly supported civil unions. He said just as education reform has split Democrats, civil unions and gay marriage is an issue that splits Republicans.

Joey Bunch has been a reporter for 28 years, including the last 12 at The Denver Post. For various newspapers he has covered the environment, water issues, politics, civil rights, sports and the casino industry.